There were also stalactites from the cave ceiling and stalagmites on the ground interlocking to form enormous pillars; these pillars loomed within the massive soluble cave, shrouded in a hazy mist that hovered around their tops, giving the illusion of pillars that could support the heavens, like the mythical pillars that hold up the sky.
Of course, these were still just minor sights.
If these were simply ordinary natural wonders, it would not have made the Jiao Taoist exhibit a shocked expression.
What genuinely caught the Jiao Taoist’s attention was the densely packed array of solid wood coffins arranged on the floor of this underground soluble cave.
Inside each coffin lay a corpse.
Even on the walls of the soluble cave were artificially excavated spaces that protruded like rocky outcrops, forming a pattern akin to many small rooms.
Each "small room" on the walls also had a coffin.
Even the ceiling was covered with massive silver threads from which multiple suspended coffins naturally hung down; thousands of them were dangling in midair within the cave.
The mere sight of so many coffins was chilling enough.
The Jiao Taoist noticed that, within the cave, depending on the position where the coffins were placed, they could be divided into three types based on color and kind.
The first type, set on the ground, were the Black Wood Coffins, fashioned from black timber and quite simple in design—rough, you could even say.
The coffins placed in the ’small rooms’ on the cave walls, however, were much more exquisite in both materials used and craftsmanship.
These were crafted from rosewood, and the surface of the coffin boards were even etched with ancient characters of some human civilization.
The Jiao Taoist took a quick look.
He found that these ancient characters weren’t so much text as they were reminiscent of Xuanmen Talisman engravings.
But they were definitely not Xuanmen Talismans.
The talismans of the Xuanmen Sect wouldn’t be used en masse in such a sinister place.
It was more like a heterodox technique derived from the Xuanmen Talismans!
And the thousands of suspended coffins dangling from the ceiling were even more refined.
Each outer coffin was made of gold, with a precious nanmu wood coffin inside for holding the corpses.
Both the outer golden coffins and the inner coffins were intricately carved by skilled craftsmen, with extremely intricate patterns on the exterior.
To make such a coffin and outer case in ancient times would have taken at least two to three years.
And yet, here lay thousands, which was truly unimaginable.
If this place were actually developed, it would likely be even more shocking than the Terracotta Army in Emperor Qin’s mausoleum.
Only those of significant status in ancient times would use coffins and casings.
Moreover, the Jiao Taoist could sense an extraordinary Zombie presence emanating from within these golden coffins.
After a cursory look around, he did not stay in this place any longer.
He turned back to report the situation here to the Heavenly Master above.
A red figure burst out of the abyss.
The Jiao Taoist surged directly upwards from the bottom of the abyss.
As the expedition team and poachers above watched the Jiao Taoist shoot straight up,
they were struck speechless in amazement.
My God, it was like witnessing an immortal!
Upon returning to the surface, the Jiao Taoist briefly described the situation below.
Jiao Taoist said, "Supreme Heavenly Venerate, there’s nothing too special below. There is danger, but it’s minor. The white mist in the middle section of the abyss is poisonous, but the toxicity is manageable. There is also a kind of pale-white lizard lurking on the mountain walls that turns multicolored when it attacks humans. The white mist is emitted by them, and their own toxicity is likely stronger than that of the mist.
Regarding the bottom of the abyss, there is a large soluble cave underground, quite sizeable, with some coffins inside, likely harboring a few Zombies in them. I concealed my presence just now, so I did not alarm them. But if living humans entered directly, it’s a different story. They would probably startle the Zombies inside."
The Jiao Taoist also briefly described the situation within the cave.
With some understanding of what was beneath, Professor Cao and others nodded.
There’s an old saying that goes: the deepest fear of humans comes from the fear of the unknown.
Now that they had a rough understanding of what lay below, things seemed more manageable.
Professor Cao commented, "Regarding the pale-white lizards the Taoist mentioned, Professor Zhou from the previous expedition also pointed them out in the information he provided. They’re believed to be a species particular to the Yunnan deep mountains, called the Five-Colored Lizard. They cling to the mountain sides to live, preying on various toxic creatures. The more venomous the prey, the more they relish it. The dreaded Killing Bees, Five-step Snakes, and King Cobras are all within their diet, and are actually their favorites! Typically, they are pale white and translucent when they’re lying in wait, but they turn multicolored when launching an attack.
In fact, this transformation is a manifestation of the toxins in their body flowing from their venom sacs to their limbs and body.
The Five-Colored Lizard is a terrifying creature of Yunnan.
Common people are aware that Killing Bees, Five-step Snakes, and King Cobras are fearsome.
Their deadly nature can scare anyone.
But in fact, to the Five-Colored Lizard, these creatures are mere pushovers.
Despite its small size, the Five-Colored Lizard has incredibly sharp teeth and tremendous bite force!
And it’s remarkably fast, with explosive power.
The bite of the Five-Colored Lizard can easily crush rocks.
With its explosive power and the speed of its attack, it’s like a loosed arrow from a bowstring.
What good is the size of a King Cobra or a deadly toad?
In an instant, the Five-Colored Lizard can pierce through their bodies, and with toxins invading, these venomous creatures would die in a moment, then become a meal for the Five-Colored Lizard.
Thus, the Five-Colored Lizard is undoubtedly fearsome.
Moreover, the horror of the Five-Colored Lizard isn’t merely in itself; when dormant, its skin also emits a highly toxic white mist.
Ordinary humans exposed to this mist will also be poisoned.
That’s far scarier than ordinary venomous creatures needing to attack humans to cause poisoning.
But strong as the Five-Colored Lizard may be, Professor Cao and others still had a way to deal with them.
Antidotes can easily handle the poison of the white mist as long as one wears a gas mask.
As for the attacks of the Five-Colored Lizard,
They would smear their bodies with the juice of a fruit tree known as the Hundred Needle Fruit Tree.
The Five-Colored Lizard detests the juice of this fruit tree.
It’s like how regular people react to fresh, steaming dung.
If you were covered with dung, would you still fear being attacked?
Others would likely keep as far away from you as possible.
The Five-Colored Lizard reacts the same way.
The previous expedition force descended into the abyss using this very method.
The Hundred Needle Fruit Tree is fairly common in the Yunnan deep mountains.
And it’s easy to find.
Simply cut into the bark and copious amounts of the tree’s juice can be extracted.
Professor Cao and his team quickly gathered plenty of this juice and smeared it over their bodies.
Professor Cao approached Ye Jiuyun with several extra portions of the Hundred Needle Fruit juice in hand.
The professor asked, "Mr. Ye, should we send some of this juice over to the Taoist priests as well?"
Descending into the abyss was highly dangerous, especially with the Five-Colored Lizards lurking on the mountain side.
Though the scent of the juice from the Hundred Needle Fruit was unpleasant,
it was highly effective against the Five-Colored Lizards. For safety’s sake, Professor Cao felt it was best to apply some of it.
Ye Jiuyun glanced at Professor Cao and directly said, "I don’t think that’s necessary, Professor. The Heavenly Master probably doesn’t need it."
Others might not recognize the Heavenly Master’s strength, but how could Ye Jiuyun not know?
That aura of Golden Light had long since turned crimson red.
Did the Heavenly Master need to smear on Hundred Needle Fruit juice?
As if the entire Yunnan populace of Five-Colored Lizards attacking together could even scratch a layer of the Heavenly Master’s defense.
Ye Jiuyun decided not to deliver the Hundred Needle Fruit juice.
To him, what’s the difference between that and offering a shopping voucher worth ten bucks to a billionaire?
Led by Ye Jiuyun and several young members of the expedition team, they began to descend into the abyss one by one.
When it was the poachers’ turn,
they suddenly felt like crying.
"Officer, seriously? We have to go down too? That’s unnecessary! What are we going to do down there?"
"Ah, sir, people could die! We were just poaching, and even if we were taken to the station, at most we’d face a few decades in jail, we’re not deserving of death! You’re sending us into this hellish place, isn’t that asking for our lives?"
"I won’t go, I won’t go! I’d rather die than go down there!"
Tears were streaming down the faces of the poachers.
They were just poachers, yet their misdeeds hadn’t warranted a death sentence.
Poacher: I’d be facing at most twenty years operating a sewing machine, and after twenty years of craftwork, I’d be out. Now you want me to risk my life for a one-in-ten chance in this deep underground abyss? Do you take me for a fool?